Track torpedo



June 20, 1939. w H, w KELLY 2,162,724 TRACK TORPEDO Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE Application March 21,

10 Claims.

My invention relates to torpedoes of the type employed as railway signals; such form of tor pedoes including a suitable carrier for the explosive charge and means for securing the same to the head of the rail.

My improved form of torpedo comprises a charge containing shell of paper or other nonmetallic material with which is associated a lead strap of the type usually employed in securing track torpedoes to the head of a rail.

One object of my invention is to provide a suitable shell or container for the charge made of a sheet of paper or the like; such sheet of paper being folded on a median line and having one folded end wrapped around the lead strap. This end is subsequently folded to position the strap with respect to the shell and to serve as a portion of the base of the torpedo, while the opposite end of the folded paper sheet is folded over the lead strap against the base or bottom of the torpedo shell and securely fastened thereto.

The pocket formation of the torpedo shell which I have developed is preferably of the shape indicated in the drawing where it will be noted that plies of the folded paper have been separated to produce such pocket and this separation is preferably effected by shaping the plies of the folded paper over a form or mandrel which will define the internal as well as the external contour of the paper shell. When the ends of the folded paper have been pasted down and this form is removed, a pocket remains which is adapted to receive the charge of explosive material contained within a carrier of complemental shape which telescopically fits the torpedo shell.

My improved track torpedo comprises two completed parts or shells, readily, simply and inexpensively produced by mechanical means, which may be presented to'loadersy the torpedo being completed by bringing the open ends of the two parts in registering positionone of them already containing the detonating mixtureand then telescopically fitting them together.

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter; reference being made to the accompanying drawing, more or less diagrammatic in character, in which;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sheet of paper of a shape which may be employed in the development of my improved torpedo structure.

Fig. 2 is a view of the paper sheet in folded form. r

Fig. 3'is a perspective view showing the ina'n- 1936, Serial No. 70,094; (01. 246-487) ner in which'the lead strap may be secured to one end of the folded sheet, and the manner of shaping the latter around a form or mandrel to produce'the torpedo shell,

Fig. 4 is an'enlarged perspective view of the 5 completed shell; showing the relation of its parts and the lead strap connected therewith.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V'V, Fig. 4. r

Fig.' 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 10 VI-VI. Fi 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view pedo, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the torpedo shell of a complete torand the explosive charge container in separated 1 condition and on a smaller scale.

The essential feature of my invention is the provision of a track torpedo comprising a pocket or receptacle of paper to receive a detonating charge which may be held in a similar container; 20 such paper pocket or receptacle being intimately associated with and bound to a lead strap which serves as the means whereby the torpedo may be applied to the head of the rail.

' In making my improved torpedo, I take a sheet of paper of suitable character and which may be of the type heretofore employed in the manufacture of track torpedoes; such paper sheet being substantially of the shape illustrated in Fig. 1. This sheet of paper is indicated at -.30 I0 and it may have one corner cut away as indicated at H] for a purpose to be described. As indicated, the sheet may have a greater length than width and it is to be folded on a median line indicated at a.

The lead strap serving to hold the torpedo to the rail is indicated at H and this is associated with the folded section of paper illustrated in Fig. 2 by Wrapping one end of the foldedpaper around the strapgiving it two or three turns as 4 the case may be-to provide the desired frictional contact that will serve to retain these parts in the completed torpedo in their initially associated relation; If desired, a small portion of adhesive may be applied to the end of the fold- 45 ed section of paper before the lead strap is wrapped.

After the lead strap has been associated with the section of folded paper, a form or mandrel such .as thatindicated as F, having tapered sides 50 and a tapered end f is inserted'between the plies of the folded paperin what might be termed the middle of the same before one end was wrapped around the lead strap. After'this has been done, the end of the folded paper carrying 55 the lead strap is brought over against the bottom of the form with the strap in the position it finally occupies, and then the opposite end of the folded section of paper is brought over the strap and fastened down upon the bottom of the paper shell by the application of suitable adhesive. By reason of the fact that one corner of the folded paper has been cut away, as indicated at Ill Figs. 1 and 2, there is but a single ply of the paper to be finally pasted down against the bottom of the torpedo shell while it is in the formation stage surrounding the end of the form or mandrel F. After the adhesive has set, the shell of the torpedo will be substantially like that illustrated at 20 in Fig. 4; Figs. 5 and 6 being sectional views of Fig. 4 at right angles to each other and exhibiting the manner in which the layers of paper are brought together and finally held at the bottom of the shell. The sides of the torpedo shell 20 present beveled or tapered surfaces 2i! following the conformation of the mandrel over which such shell has been formed, and these surfaces facilitate engagement by an engine wheel when the torpedo is positioned upon the head of a rail to serve as a warning signal.

The explosive charge to be inserted in this pocket or shell includes a container 2| of paper or other suitable non-metallic material of substantially the same shape as the shell, though slightly smaller, and this container will be inserted telescopically in the open end of the shell 29; the final condition of the torpedo being indicated in Fig. '7. The charge container holds a body of detonating material of usual character preferably, however, in the form of loose particles. The particles of the detonating charge are so densely packed as to make it unnecessary to close the end of the charge container, and this is inserted in the shell so that its open end is disposed internally thereof while the outer end is closely associated with the shell and has substantially the same contour as the closed end of the latter. Fig. 8 shows the shell and charge container in separated condition and in position to be telescopically engaged and produce the structure shown in Fig. '7.

After the charge has been inserted in the shell of the torpedo, it is ready for the. final steps which may include dipping in a suitable varnish or other sealing solution to serve as a means of partially water-proofing the material of which it is composed and at the same time holding the charge container in position; then the bottom surface of the torpedo may be sanded to provide for the desired frictional engagement with the head of a rail. It will be understood of course, that complete water-proofing of the torpedo may be effected by dipping the same in melted paraffin or other wax having similar properties.

As may be readily observed from the foregoing, my improved track torpedo comprises two completed parts or shells readily, simply and inexpensively produced by mechanical means which may be presented to loaders; the torpedo being completed by bringing the open ends of the two parts in registering position-one of them containing the detonating charge and the other carrying the lead securing strap-and then telescopically fitting them together to form the structure illustrated in Fig. '7.

It will be understood of course, that modifications may be made in the foregoing embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A track torpedo comprising telescopic shells of non-metallic material of substantially similar shape and size; one of said shells containing a detonating charge and the other and outer shell being made of a section of once-folded paper with overlapping end portions and shaped to provide between its plies a pocket with a closed end; said pocket serving to telescopically receive the chargecontainer, and a retaining strap underlying said torpedo and carried by one of the overlapping ends of said folded paper section forming the outer shell.

2. A track torpedo comprising telescopic shells of non-metallic material of substantially similar shape and size; one of said shells containing a detonating charge and the other and outer shell being made of a section of once-folded paper with overlapping end portions and shaped to provide between its plies a pocket with a closed end; said pocket serving to telescopically receive the charge container, and a retaining strap underlying said torpedo and carried by said folded paper section forming the outer shell and enclosed in and permanently retained by a folded portion of one of the overlapping ends of the same.

3. A track torpedo comprising telescopic shells of non-metallic material; one of said shells containing a detonating charge and the other shell serving as a pocket to telescopically receive the charge container and being made of a section of folded paper, and a retaining strap for said torpedo carried by one end of said folded paper section and underlying the charge-receiving shell; said strap being held in place by the opposite end of said folded paper section which overlies the same and is secured to the base of such outer shell.

4. In a track torpedo, a hell or enclosure for the detonating charge comprising a pocket with a closed end formed between the opposite plies of a once-folded sheet of paper; the ends of said folded sheet of paper at each side of said pocket underlying the same in overlapped relation and being secured to a wall thereof, and a strap secured to said shell and serving as the means for retaining said torpedo to the head of a rail; said strap being positioned by wrapping one end of the folded paper sheet'around the same.

5. In a track torpedo, a shell or enclosure for the detonating charge comprising a pocket with a closed end formed from a once-folded sheet of paper and having its ends at each side of said pocket in overlapped relation underlying and secured to a wall of the same, and a strap serving as a means of retaining said torpedo to the head of a rail; said strap being positioned by wrapping the same in one end of the folded paper section constituting said shell and secured to the latter by the overlapping ends of said paper section connected to a wall of the shell.

6. The method of making non-metallic torpedo shells, which comprises providing a substantially rectangular section of paper of suitable dimensions; folding said paper once; introducing a shaped form between the plies of said folded paper substantially centrally of its greatest dimension to distend the same into pocket form; wrapping one end of said folded paper section around a lead strap and folding said end over the distended pocket-forming portion; bringing the opposite end of the folded paper section over the distended portion and the strap overlying the same; and securing such free end to the strapcarrying end and one wall of the'distended portion.

'7. The method of making non-metallic torpedo shells, which comprises providing a substantially rectangular section of paper of suitable dimensions; folding said paper once; introducing a shaped form between the plies of said folded paper substantially centrally of its greatest dimension to distend the same into pocket form; wrapping one end of said folded paper section around a lead strap, such Wrapping being of an extent that will place the strap centrally of the distended pocket-forming portion when the end carrying the strap is folded over the same; bringing the opposite end of the folded paper section over the distended portion and the strap overlying the same, and securing such free end to the strap-carrying end and one wall of the distended portion.

8. The method of making a non-metallic torpedo shell, which consists in providing a substantially rectangular section of paper of a dimension to form such shell, said paper section having a greater length than Width; folding said paper once on its longitudinal axis; introducing a shaped form between the plies of said folded paper substantially centrally of its greatest dimension to distend said plies into pocket form with a closed end; wrapping one end of said folded paper around a lead strap, such wrapping being of an extent that will place the strap centrally of the distended portion when the end carrying the strap is folded over the same; bringing the opposite end of the folded paper section over the distended portion and the strap overlying the same; and securing such free end to the strap-carrying end and one wall of the distended portion.

9. In a track torpedo, a charge-containing shell of paper or similar material comprising a substantially rectangular section thereof in oncefolded form; said section having a portionof its plies distended to form a pocket having a closed end, with the ends of said folded portion at each side of said pocket underlying a wall of the same in overlapping relation and secured thereto, and a strap for holding the charge-containing shell to the head of a rail; said strap being enclosed by an end of the folded paper section making up such shell.

10. In a track torpedo, a charge-containing shell of paper or similar material comprising a substantially rectangular section thereof in oncefolded form; said section having a portion of its plies distended to form a pocket having a closed end, with the ends of said folded portion at each side of said pocket underlying a wall of the same in overlapping relation and secured thereto, and a lead strap for holding the charge-containing shell to the head of a rail; said strap underlying the shell and being retained in place by one end and positioned by the other end of the folded paper section making up such shell.

HUGH WILLIAMSON KELLY. 

